Labeler



C. M. HESSON May 24, 1949.

' LABELER Filed June 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l HHIIIII III IHHI INVENTOR.

@wwaa ATTORNEYS May 24, 1949; c. M. HESSON 2,471,066

LABELER Filed June 6. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MUM I iiljijiiiil" Z6 INVENTOR. M 7 20.444

- ATTOP/VZKS Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABELER Charles M. I Iesson, Hanover, Pa., assignor to Chisholm-Ryder Company, Incorporated, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 6, 1945, Serial No. 597,789

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a labeler and more particularly to a labeler for applying labels of uneven thickness to cans. Such labels could be, for example, varnished labels having unvarnished ends or embossed labels where the embossing varies in thickness.

With labels which are varnished or otherwise coated except at one end, the unvarnished end is necessarily of less thickness than the varnished body of the label. Likewise with embossed labels the embossing may vary in thickness. When such labels of uneven thickness are stacked with their thinner portions in register, the thinner portions necessarily droop or incline downwardly from the body of the stack because of this inequality in the thickness. Further, the degree to which the thinner portions of a stack of such labels slopes downwardly depends upon the total thickness of the stack. Thus, with only a few labels this slope of the thinner portions is not particularly noticeable, but as the thickness or the height of the stack increases the inequality in the thickness of the labels causes a progressively greater and greater slope.

The labeler forming the subject of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the labeling of cylindrical cans in which the can .is rolled by power down a track or canway over the top of the stack of labels, the can first engaging the end of the uppermost label and. rolling it on itself so as to label the can. It will be seen that where a substantial stack of labels having ends of reduced thickness is used, the depressed condition of the thinner end of the uppermost label of the stack presents a distinct problem in securing reliable and full contact between the thinner end of the uppermost label and the can. In the following description it will be assumed that varnished labels having unvarnished ends are to be applied to cylindrical cans, although, as above indicated, the invention is applicable to all labels of uneven thickness, particularly those which are thinner at their ends.

It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to provide, in a labeler Where a can is rolled over a stack of labels of uneven thickness, full contact between the thinner portion of the uppermost label and the can rolling thereover so as to insure uniform and reliable labeling of each can.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a labeler in which the thinner portion of the uppermost label is held coplanar with the thicker body of the uppermost label so that contact of the can rolling thereover with the full area of the uppermost label is insured.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a labeler which automatically compensates for the increase in slope of the thinner portions 2 of the stack of labels from the bodies thereof as the height of the stack increases.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism for applying labels of uneven thickness to cans which is in the form of a simple attachment to a standard labeler and which can be readily removed when the labeler is not used with the particular type of labels to which the invention is directed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a labeler for labels of uneven thickness which can readily be adjusted to accommodate labels having different variations in thickness, this being important'inasmuch as the slope of the thinner portions of the labels is dependent upon the difference or inequality between the thickness of the body portions of the labels and the thinner portions thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a labeler which is extremely simple in con-. struction and operation and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the vertically movable bed plate of a labeler and showing the manner in which the stack of labels thereon is applied to a cylindrical can, the stack being shown as of substantial thickness.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. l and showing the position of the parts when the stack of labels has been reduced to a small number.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view, taken on line 4-4, Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken on line 5--5, Fig. l.

The labeler is shown as including a vertically movable label bed plate III which is mounted for vertical movement having for this purpose vertical guide bars or legs II which support the label bed plate in a horizontal position from the main frame (not shown) and permit it to be raised and lowered in accordance with the height of the stack of labels thereon. For this purpose a vertical rack I2 is secured to the label bed plate In and is engaged by a pinion 13 fast to a shaft M which shaft can be turned by any suitable timing mechanism for gradually raising the label bed plate as the pile of labels thereon diminishes. A hand crank 15 is also shown for manually adjusting the elevation of the bed plate I0, this feature forming no part of the present invention and hence not being illustrated in detail. The stack l8 of labels is supported on a subplate l9, this subplate being 'removably supported on the label bed plate Ill. Each of the labels [8 is shown to having a varnishedbody 20 and an unvarmost label and rolling it ori' -its'el t so as'-'to label the can. The feature of the invention resides in supporting the unvarnished ends 2| of the stack of labels 8 so that the unvarnished end of the uppermost label lies in the same horizontal plane as the body of the uppermost label thereby to insure a reliable pickup ofthe'uppermostlabel by the can regardless of'the-height of the stack of labels.

To this end thelabehsubplate-IS comprises a horizontal top plate 25 supported by aplurality of integral cross ribs 26" which rest upon the upper face of the 'label 'bed plate H3. At itscenter the label subplate 25 is providedon'its underside with a pair of longitudinal ribs 28, these longitudinal ribs being spaced-from each other to provide a guideway for a longitudinally slidingbar' 30. This bar is-slidingly held in'the gnide'way provided between the longitudinal ribs-'28 Eby a metal strip 3|, this stripbeing'securedtd the underside of the longitudinal ribs filthy-screws 32 or in any other suitable'man'ner. To hold the label subplate lll in centered relatlon to f the label bed plate l9, one end of this strip ?3|-isbent downwardly and 'provide'dwith averucn endslot 33 which fits 'downa'rouhd'theshank of a horizontal screw 34 pr'ovided' at the corresponding end of the label b'ed' plate l. This'screw 34 is not tightened but r'nerely 's'er'vesto provide a headed pin for anchoring the lab'el subplate |9 against lateral and "endw'ise dispIaeement relative to the label subplate '10.

' Oneend of thetop plate25 ofthe subplate I9 is in the fdrin of a hi iigfed s'ection'w, this hinged section 36 extending'the 'full'width of the label subplate-l9 and beingapproximatei equal in extent, le'rigthwise of the labeler, to the width of the 'unvarnished ends' fl of'the labels. This hinged end section 36 is secured to the top plate 25 by hinge s" 38'so'thalt' it dati be'swung upwardly about a horizontal transverse-axis and thereby lift the unvarnished ends 2 Fof'the labels in the stack l8 so as to support 'the-"unvarnishedend of the uppermost label= at 'ahy' inclination desired. This hinged section 36 is provided with a perpendicular dependin 'pm ss which engages'an angularly inclined supporting face fll at the end of the slidingbar 30. I 'Theothenend-o'f this sliding bar 30 is rou'nded and 'engiages an inclined bar 42 adjustably fr'iblififd '01! a'StatiOnary' end head 43 of the labeler. 'This stationary end head can be supportedfrom themain' frame (not shown) of the labeler'inany 'suitable'm'anner, as by the horizontal supporting rods"'44,' as shown.

This end head 43 is shown asihcluding an upper horizontal' bar"46"which-slidingly carries a horizontal pinlfi; this pin'48 being threaded and being held at the desired axial position by a pair of nuts'49. At the end of the pin'48 opposing the stack" l8 of labels it is provided with a transverse pin '50 which extends-through the upper end of the bar 42. The lower end ofthis bar is similarly supportedby athreaded pin'55 which is slidingly supported'in the-loWerbar-56 of the end head 43and is securedin any adjusted angular position'by a"'pair-of nuts--58. This-pin-55 is 4 provided with a cross pin 59 which supports the lower end of the inclined bar 42 and it will be seen that by the adjustment of thenuts 49 and 58 the bar 42 can be adjusted to have any desired inclination, fore-and-aft of the labeler.

In the operation of the labeler a substantial stack of the labels is placed upon the label subplate It with their ends 2| resting upon the hinged section '36 "of the subplate. The hand "crank'l5 is then turned so as to bring the uppermost label of the stack opposite the rail 23. The label bed plate |0 is either raised or lowered in doing this. If it is lowered the round end of the sliding bar 30 rides down the inclined bar 42 and because of the inclination of this bar 42 it is pushed to the left. Through the incline 40 at the opposite end of this bar 39 the pin 39 and the hinged section'36 is raised so as to lift the unvarnished ends 2| of the stack of labels. If it is raised the rounde-nd of the sliding bar 30 rides up on the inclined bar 42 and the weight-of the labels, plus the weight of-the hinged section 36 acting through the perpendicular pin 39 against the inclined end 40 013 this bar 30, serves to shift this bar to the right; as viewed: in Fig.- 1','so as to continue to engage the inclined bar in such rising movement of the bed pla'te --|0. In either event the angularity 'of thebar 42 has been adjusted, through the nuts 49 and 58', was to bring the unvarnished end 2| 'ofthe uppermost label even or coplanar'with the-varnished body thereof. It will therefore" be seen'thatthe can 22 on rolling down the-track 23;will' engage this unvarnished end of the luppermostlabel.

As the labeling proceeds the height of the stack N3 of labels diminishes;'the bed plate 10 being slowly raised 'bythe gear 13 :as the labels are peeled off of'the stack so as to keep the uppermost label continuously in proper a'linement with the track 23. As the'bed plate-l0 rises in so bringing the topmost of the stack of labels into alinement with the traclr'23 the sliding'bar 39-moves upwardly along the inclined-bar 42,- this movement being effected by the weight'o'f the labels and the hinged section 36'actingagainst the inclined end ll] of this bar. As a; 'result,-as'the'height of the stack'l8 of labels decreases the angularity of the hinged section 36 of the label subplate likewise decreases. This compensates "for the gradually diminishing total thickness of the unvarnished ends 2| of the labels 'as'compared with the varnished bodies 20 thereofas' the height of the stack decreases. Thus, upon referring to Fig. 2, when the stack of labels l8. has beenpractically exhausted, the hinged section-36 is-practically coplanar with the top plate 25 ofthe subplate l9. It will therefore be seen that as the bed plate I0 moves up in response to the-diminishing stack of labels the hinged section 36 is automatically adjusted so as to maintain the unvarnished end 2| of the topmost label of' thestackcoplanar with the varnished body of this topmost label, thereby to insure uniform and full engagement between the label and the can regardless of the height of the stack.

When it is desired to use the labeler withlabels having uniform thickness throughout, the operator merely lifts the label subplate 9 from the bed plate it, this being permitted by the slotted end of the strip 3| which slides over the neck or shank of the screw 34 which serves to hold the subplate in position but is nottightened.

From the foregoing it" will be'seen that the present invention-provides avery simple accessory for a standard'labeler whi'ch adapts it'.f01

efiicient use with labels of uneven thickness, in particular insuring that the topmost label lies flat or in the same horizontal plane regardless of the height of the stack or of the fact that the ends may be of less thickness than the bodies thereof, this difference bein cumulative as the height of the stack increases. It will further be seen that the labeler is very easily adjusted to the particular labels employed; it can easily be removed when it is not needed; and will stand up under conditions of severe use without getting out of order.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof. said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of said 1abels, the uppermost one of which is adapted to be applied to a container, and means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement With said zone, the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a section mounted on said supporting plate for vertical movement relative thereto and supporting the thinner portions of said stack of labels, and means moving said section vertically relatively to said supporting plate in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost label of said stack in a predetermined angular relation to the thicker portion thereof regardless of the height of said stack, comprising a member carried by said supporting plate and guided for horizontal movement relative thereto, means operatively connecting one part of said member with said section for moving said section vertically in response to the horizontal movement of said member, and stationary cam means arranged alongside said plate and engaging another part of said member to move it horizontally in response to the vertical movement of said sup-- porting plate.

2. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof, said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of such labels, the uppermost one of which is adapt-5 ed to be applied to a container, and means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement with said zone, the

combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a section mounted on said supportin plate for vertical movement relative thereto and supporting the thinner portions of said stack of labels, and means moving said section vertically relatively to said supporting plate' in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost label of said stack in a predetermined angular relation to the thicker portion thereof regardless of the height of said stack, comprising a member carried by said supporting plate and guided for horizontal movement relative thereto, cam means operatively connecting one part of said member with said section for moving said section vertically in response to the horizon-' tal movement of said member, and stationary cam means arranged alongside said plate and engaging another part of said member to move it horizontally in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate.

3. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof, said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of such labels, the uppermost one of which is adapted to be applied to a container, and means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement with said zone, the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a section mounted on said supporting plate for vertical movement relative thereto and supporting the thinner portions of said stack of labels, and means moving said section vertically relatively to said supporting plate in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost label of said stack in a predetermined angular relation to the thicker portion thereof regardless of the height of said stack, comprising a horizontal bar carried by said supporting plate and movable longitudinally relative to said plate, means operatively connecting one end of said horizontal bar with said section for moving said section vertically in response to the longitudinal movement of said horizontal bar, and a stationary bar extending upwardly alongside said supporting plate at an angle to the vertical and having its inclined face engaged by the other end of said horizontal bar to move said horizontal bar longitudinally in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate.

4. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof, said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of such labels, the uppermost one of which is adapted to be applied to a container, and means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement with said zone, the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a section mounted on said supporting plate for vertical movement relative thereto and supporting the thinner portions-of said stack of labels, and means moving said section vertically relatively to said supporting plate in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost label of said stack in a predetermined angular relation to the thicker portion thereof regardless of the height of said stack, comprising a horizontal bar carried by said supporting plate and movable longitudinally relative to said plate, means operatively connecting one end of said horizontal bar with said section for moving said section vertically in response to the longitudinal movement of said horizontal bar, a stationary bar extending upwardly alongside said supporting plate at an angle to the vertical and having its inclined face engaged by the other end of said horizontal bar to move said horizontal bar longitudinally in response to the vertical movement of said sup porting plate, and means for adjusting the angularity of said stationary bar.

5. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof, said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of such labels, the uppermost one of which is adapted to be applied to a container, and means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermostlabel of said stack in alinement with said zone, the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a. hinged section mounted at one end of said supporting plate for vertical movement relative thereto to swing about a horizontal transverse axis and supporting the thinner portions of said labels, and means moving said hinged section vertically relative to said supporting plate in response to the :verticalmovementof said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost labelr-in said stack in a predetermined angularrelation 'tothe thicker portion thereofregardless of the height of said stack comprisinga horizontal bar carried by said supporting plate and movable longitudinally relative "to said plate at right angles to the axis of said hinged-section,zmeans l operatively connecting one end of said-horizontal.

bar with said hinged section for flmoving -said hinged section vertically in response to thelongitudinal movement of saidhorizontat bar, and a stationary bar extending upwardly alongside said supporting plate at an angle to the vertical and .=having'its inclined face engaged by theother end of said horizontal .bar to move-said hori- 'zontal barlongitudinally in responseto-the 'ver- .tical movement of said supportingplate.

-6.In a labeler for labels havingport-ions of vless thickness than other portions thereof,- :said

labeler having a supporting plateforsa stack of such labels,- the uppermost one of wv=hich-is-:adapted to beapplied to a container, and meansfor moving said plate vertically relative to the-label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement with said-lzone the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a hinged section mounted'at one end of said supporting platefor vertical said stack in a predetermined angular relation to the thicker portion thereof regardlestof the height of said stack comprising a horizontal bar carried by said supporting plate and movable longitudinally relative to said plate at rightanglesto the axis of said hinged section and having -ene-end arranged adjacent said hinged section and provided with an inclined face, a downward projection on said hinged section engaging said inclined face for moving said hinged section vertically in response to the longitudinal movement of said horizontal bar, and a stationary bar arranged alongside said supporting plate at an angle to the vertical and having its inclined face engaged by the oppositeend of said horizontal bar to move said horizontal bar'longitudinally in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate.

'7. In a labeler for labels having portions of less thickness than other portions thereof, .said labeler having a supporting plate for a stack of such labels, the uppermost one of which is adapted to be applied to a containenland means for moving said plate vertically relative to the label application zone to maintain the uppermost label of said stack in alinement with said zone, the combination therewith of a label pack adjusting means, comprising a hinged section mounted at one end of said supporting plate for vertical movement relative thereto to swing about a horizontal transverse axis and supporting the thinner portions of said labels, and means moving said hinged section vertically relative to said supporting plate in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate and maintaining the thinner portion of said uppermost label in tionvertically in response to the horizontal movesaid stack 1 ma predetermined angular relation "to the rthicker, portion-thereof regardless of the heightof said stack eomprisinga horizontal bar carried by said supporting plate and movable longitudinally relative to said plate at right angles to the axis of said hinged section and having one endarranged adjacent said hinged sectionand. provided with an inclined face, a downward projection on said hinged section engaging said-inclined face for moving said hinged section verticallyin response to the longitudinal movement of said horizontal bar, a stationary bar arranged alongside saidsupporting plate at an angle to theverticaland having its inclined face engaged by the opposite end of said horizontal bar to move said horizontal bar longitudinally in response to the vertical movement of said supporting plate, and means for adjusting the angularity of saidstationary bar.

.8. An attachment for a labeler to adapt it to be. used with labels having portions of less thickness than-other portions thereof, comprising a subplate adapted to vbe laid on the bed plate of the. labeler and having a vertically movable section supporting the thinner portions of said labels, a horizontal bar mounted for longitudinallysliding movement in said subplate and having one end projecting outwardly therefrom,

.meansloperatively connecting the other end of said horizontal bar with said section for moving said section vertically in response to the horizontal movementof said bar, and an upright stationary bar on said labeler and having an inclined face, said projecting endof said horizontal bar.engagingsaidinclinedface of said upright subplate for vertical movement relative thereto 'toswingabout a horizontal axis and supporting 'thethinnerfportions of said labels, a horizontal "bar'mounted for longitudinally sliding movement msaid subplate .and having one end projecting outwardly therefrom and means operatively connecting'theother end .of said horizontal bar with said'hinged section for moving said hinged secment of said-bar, comprising a downward projection on.said hinged section engaging an inclined face 'atsaid other end of said horizontal bar, and an upright stationary bar on said labeler and having an inclined face, said projecting end ofsaidhorizontal bar engaging said inclined face of said'upright stationary bar to move said horizontal bar longitudinally in response to the vertical movement 'of said bed plate.

' CHARLES M. HESSON.

7 REFERENCES CITED "The.following references are of record in'the 'file of.this.patent:

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Number 

